This Sun. 6/1: March against the commercialization of the PIDC Parade 2008!!!

Mga Kababayan:

The National Alliance For Filipino Concerns* invites you to march with our contingent in the Philippine Independence Day Parade this coming Sunday, June 1st, 2008!
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Meet at 10:00 AM
on the Southeast corner of 39th Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan
Click for map
Subway Directions:
B, D, F, V to 42nd Street - Bryant Park
7 Train to 42 Street - Bryant Park

Come and march in the annual Philippine Independence Day Parade under the mighty banner of The National Alliance For Filipino Concerns and all organizations behind it.

We will call attention to the unfortunate and corrupt commercialization of the Philippine Independence Day Parade. The parade is meant to celebrate our independence, but the outrageous costs set by the PIDC, $1100 for a corner booth! We will also show our concern for the current Rice Crisis in the Philippines, another issue that highlights the Philippines' lack of independence when rice- a basic necessity- is controlled by foreign markets.

Bring empty pots, pans, and wooden spoons as noisemakers, so that the Filipino community of NYC will be pushed to take notice of our calls!

Finally, Let us come together as a united community to show our continuing and unwavering support for the beleaguered Sentosa 27++ nurses who are demanding justice for themselves and for all Filipinos working In the U.S. and abroad, and to express our community's stand to legalize all undocumented Filipinos in the United States.

Please call (718 )565-8862 or
Visit us at the Bayanihan Filipino Community Center
40-21 69th Street Woodside, NY 11377

* National Alliance For Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), Philippine Forum,
Sandiwa, New York Committee For Human Rights In The Philippines.,
Anakbayan New York / New Jersey, Filipinas For Rights And Empowerment
(FIRE), Movement For A Free Philippines

Link Resources:
http://www.anakbayan-ny.blogspot.com
http://www.firenyc.blogspot.com


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Press Release

May 29, 2008

Reference: Rico Foz, Executive Vice President, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns (NAFCON), email:nafconusa@yahoo.com

Philippine Independence Day Celebration 2008-NYC
TRIBUTE TO THE PHILIPPINE'S GOVERNMENT'S EXCELLENCE in CORRUPTION

Madison Avenue, NYC - In commemoration of the 110th anniversary of Philippine Independence, NAFCON (National Alliance for Filipino Concerns) will be marching to expose the corruption and commercialization of the New York Philippine Independence Day Celebration (PIDC). NAFCON will be emphasizing the outrageous fees of the PIDC march, the rice crisis in the Philippines, and the ongoing Sentosa 27++ struggle of immigrant healthcare workers.

When the cost of a booth at the PIDC's celebration is $1100, and the cost of a simple barbeque stick is an arm and a leg--in this celebration of freedom, people are not celebrating independence, instead it is a time for Filipinos to exploit one another at exaggerated costs. "These prices are ridiculous, and PIDC, INC. should be ashamed of themselves. It is a disgrace to our Filipino heritage of those who fought for independence, and now there are organizations like PIDC, INC. that commercialize this day of independence," remarks Rico Foz, Executive Vice President of NAFCON.

Although it is the 110th year celebration of Philippine independence, the majority of Filipinos are far from free; especially during this current rice crisis. During the 1970s, the Philippines used to be one of the leaders in production of rice, however, the liberalization of the market and dependence on foreign markets for basic staples puts Filipinos in a stressful situation. When majority of the Philippines, who live in poverty, depend on rice as a basic source of nutrition, and the prices are increasing, how can Filipinos afford their rice? The Philippines to this day cannot call itself independent when access to basic needs are dominated by foreign markets.

NAFCON will also be highlighting during the march the ongoing Sentosa 27++ case, which represents the struggle that thousands of overseas Filipino healthcare workers must undergo. Upon arrival in the United States, SentosaCare LLC recruitment agency not only failed to honor the tenets of the nurses' contracts, but subjected them to a steep 60:1 patient-to-nurse ratio and withheld their wages. At least 27 healthcare workers resigned from their posts in response to such horrible working conditions and contract violations, but 10 nurses in Long Island and their lawyer were criminally charged.

If you want to take part in the NAFCON contingent and make a stand for a more genuine independence of the Philippines, please meet at the Southeast corner of 39th St. and 5th Avenue at 10 a.m.

The National Alliance for Filipino Concerns or NAFCON, is a national, US wide alliance of Filipino groups and individuals in over 23 states committed to protecting and advancing the rights and welfare of Filipinos in the United States.

Members of NAFCON in New York and New Jersey area include Philippine Forum, Anakbayan NY/NJ, NY Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment, Sandiwa National Fil-Am Youth Alliance, and Lakas Diwa.

For more information, contact nafconusa@yahoo.com. ###